A jailed doctor was killed and another political prisoner critically injured when a Myanmar junta convoy reportedly hit two mines during a transfer from Monywa Prison on Tuesday.
More than 100 political prisoners were being taken from Monywa to Myingyan and Obo prisons in five trucks on Tuesday when their trucks hit a mine on the Mandalay-Monywa highway.
The ethnic Kachin, Dr Zaw Htwal Aung, was killed. Another political prisoner, Ko Arkar Nyein Chan, from Budalin who was chained to the doctor’s leg, is in a critical condition, according to a member of the Monywa People Strike Committee, citing family members.
“We are sad about the loss. No matter which group did, it shouldn’t have happened. The junta unjustly detained the political prisoners so it is responsible,” said the member.
He said the truck driver was killed. Dr Zaw Htwal Aung’s family was trying to retrieve his body, the member added.
Dr Zaw Htwal Aung participated in the civil disobedience movement following the 2021 coup and was arrested in September 2021 for treating wounded anti-regime protesters and displaced civilians in Sagaing Region.
The Political Prisoner Network in Myanmar said two landmines hit three trucks.
Some reports said three political prisoners and a driver were killed and more than 12 were injured. The network said it was trying to confirm the reports.
The Irrawaddy could not independently verify the reports.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Monywa Prison is notorious for its ill-treatment of political prisoners who were arrested following the coup and it often transfers prisoners to far away prisons.
